2023 Trends

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is still critical to society. While many organizations have embraced DEI initiatives to deepen relationships and encourage connections, there is still work to be done. Recent judicial changes to Affirmative Action raise concerns of a broader impact to workplace diversity. The stress caused by discrimination and oppression can have serious effects on our overall health and wellbeing, especially for people of different religions, abilities, genders and sexual orientations.

Trend 1: With the Supreme Court reversing Affirmative Action, there is a risk of decreasing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace.

Thirteen states are targeting corporate DEI initiatives saying a focus on diverse hiring is illegal based on federal and state laws. Conversations are already starting on whether DEI initiatives and diversity statements will cause backlash. While the Affirmative Action ruling is specific to college admissions, history has taught us that this decision in the system adversely impacts diversity in the workplace. When four states banned Affirmative Action in the 1990s and early 2000s, there was a sharp decrease in employment for Asian and Black women, and Hispanic men. Not only is there a short-term impact, but also a long-term risk of lack of diverse talent among graduates and future employees. Companies with more diverse executive teams outperform in profitability the less diverse ones by 36-48%.

Trend 2: People with disabilities face health inequities in and out of the healthcare system.

Stigma and discrimination set the stage for unfair treatment and a rise in anxiety and depression, as well as lost opportunities for education and employment, which can then lead to poverty. It’s important to note that an estimated 16% of the global population have severe disabilities—a growing number due to invisible illnesses and people living longer. As we look at accessibility, we should consider all aspects: physical, digital, communication and social.

Trend 3: Diversity, equity, inclusion and justice trend away from divisiveness and towards connection.

Organizations are looking to deepen relationships and create a sense of belonging to set the foundation for difficult conversations. This provides an opportunity to see oppression as a solvable problem using healing. This approach emphasizes each individual’s healing in a group setting to then build human solidarity.

Trend 4: Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance shows the impact trauma and stress have on our health today.

Epigenetics can be altered by psychosocial stress such as oppression and the experience of being “othered”. These feelings increase the level of cortisol and build neural pathways towards the survivor brain, making it more difficult to manage stressful situations. The result could lead to languishing mental wellness. In addition, psychosocial stress can be a contributing factor to breast cancer, hypertension and preterm birth. Healing trauma can create change for current and future generations. Accessibility to healing modalities is an opportunity for the wellness industry.

Trend 5: LGBTQI+ community faces health disparities impacted by discrimination.

A 2022 survey by the Center for American Progress showed that more than 1 in 3 LGBTQI+ adults reported experiencing some kind of discrimination in the past year. Additionally, debates on law restrictions impacting this community have a negative repercussion on mental health and create unsafe environments. Transgender or gender non-conforming (TGNC) youth are more likely to have attention deficit disorders and depression than non-TGNC peers. Whether being misgendered, receiving limited coverage for inclusive treatments, having to hide one’s personal life at work or school, or being refused service, these experiences can affect one’s wellbeing. Safe spaces offer PRIDE without exception.

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The correlation between wellness and our physical environment has long been established. An exciting and growing trend in today’s architecture and design combines sustainable building principles with a growing focus on people and their wellness needs, whether they are physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, financial or environmental. So called “thin places”, either natural or constructed, will help give meaning and purpose to our lives by connecting us with ourselves, others and the world around us. Another emerging trend is biophilic design, which leverages the healing power of nature found in light, water, essences and such. We will also see a stronger connection between architectural design and the natural features of the land around it, with a particular emphasis on local materials and artisanal goods. At the same time, design will promote physical movement, especially for seniors, changing their living spaces in a way that encourages a more active and healthy daily routine. Our indoor living spaces will change as well, thanks to advancements in technology and a continued preference for the benefits of open floor plans; adaptive reuse will repurpose buildings rather than demolishing them. And spaces that can adapt to different, changing needs will gain in popularity.

Health and wellness are a direct result of the environments where we live, work and play. 

TREND 1: From Sustainability to Wellness Architecture and Regenerative Design

The evolution to wellness architecture and regenerative design has been gradually catching on. It incorporates sustainable design principles and goes beyond, putting the wellness of people and the planet at the center of conception, design planning, strategy formulation, creation and regeneration of our built environment and our communities. Wellness architecture and design involve designing around a holistic human lifestyle in harmony with nature and spirit. It is a regenerative approach which promotes health and wellness outcomes for people, the built environment and nature, and enables a deeper understanding of how we, humans, interrelate with our environment, and inversely, how the environment impacts human wellbeing.

TREND 2: Planning and designing to enhance the seven human-centered wellness benefits and dimensions

These have been identified through decades of evidence-based health and wellness scholarly and scientific research and they include:

• Physical Wellness – lower stress and blood pressure, improved respiratory function, increased physical activity and energy, lower obesity levels, weight management, and increased healing rates, improved circadian cycles, lower addictions and improved nutrition.
• Mental Wellness – improved cognitive ability and appraisal, increased focus and clarity of mind, increased resilience, reduced anxiety and negative thoughts, awareness of the present moment (mindfulness), increased attention restoration and soft fascination, and reduced temporal density.
• Emotional Wellness – maintaining healthy relationships, improved mood, lower stress levels, experience of positive emotions (awe, serenity, contentment, wonder and joy), resilience and positive coping, and experience of inner peace.
• Spiritual Wellness – addressing existential questions, increased self-transcendence, experience of wholeness, positive sense of solving problems, invigorated meaning and purpose in life, spiritual arousal, and increase of life satisfaction.
• Social Wellness – creating community, increasing generosity, mutualism and empathy. This includes compassion, helpfulness and enhanced collective concerns; it create a sense of safety, belonging and security longer life expectancy, and pro-social behaviours.
• Financial Wellness – increased efficiency, productivity and job performance, reduced absenteeism, positive return on investments, increased market distinction and branding, increased facilities due to economy of scale, and reduced stress over financial matters and security.
• Environmental Wellness – lower air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner water, greater access to nature, increase of biophilic effect, improved biodiversity and regenerative processes, disaster mitigation, and pro-environmental and biospheric behaviours.

TREND 3: Thin Places, either natural or constructed

Thin places are locations or settings with a qualitative difference between our normal everyday lives and something beyond our current frames of reference, that transcend to more extraordinary, mysterious and even spiritual experiences. The wellness benefits from thin places can form meaningful connections between ourselves, others and the greater world around us. The experiences of awe and serenity, that derive from such places, can help give meaning and purpose to our lives, give us perspective and balance, support our physical, cognitive and emotional wellness, and stimulate a sense of wonder that reinforces positive pro-social and pro-environmental behaviors.

TREND 4: Biophilic Design

Biophilic design connects us to the healing power of nature and involves the integration of natural elements into built environments. It incorporates an array of principles, such as light, acoustics, dynamic airflow, presence of water, essences, natural materials, harmonious visual connections. Biophilic design can include features like green walls, natural lighting, indoor plants and materials inspired by nature, creating a healthier and more soothing atmosphere. Biophilic design is proven to reduce stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, improving our overall wellbeing.

TREND 5: Designing to enhance a sense of belonging and reciprocity with the land

This helps inform and inspire the design of gardens, landscape as well as indoor built environments. Embodying the heritage of a land and its natural features in design can evoke a strong connection with the inherent spirit of a place and offer enhanced wellness benefits on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.

TREND 6: Designing to promote greater physical movement, especially for Senior Living

Designing walking paths, trails and interactive gardens, as well as maintaining moderate sets of stairs in senior living spaces (vs. removing them and opting for one-level spaces) is becoming more common. Encouraging seniors to walk, use stairs and have opportunities to move more on a regular basis within their everyday built environments helps improve balance, agility, mental wellness, and helps prevent various conditions related to aging.

TREND 7: Smart Homes

With advancements in technology, smart home systems have become more prevalent. These systems allow occupants and homeowners to control various aspects of their indoor environments, including lighting, temperature, security and entertainment, through automated or voice-activated systems. 

TREND 8: Open Floor Plans

Open-concept layouts continue to be popular, emphasizing spaciousness and connectivity between different areas of a home or office. This design approach promotes natural light, flexibility and interaction.

TREND 9: Adaptive Reuse

Adaptive reuse involves renovating or repurposing existing buildings for new uses instead of demolishing them. This trend promotes sustainability and preservation of historic structures while giving them new life and functionality.

TREND  10: Wellness-Oriented Spaces

There is an increasing emphasis on designing spaces that promote physical and mental wellbeing. This includes incorporating features like fitness areas, meditation rooms, private wet areas, natural ventilation, and access to green spaces.

TREND 11: Flexibility and Multi-functionality

Spaces that can adapt to different needs and functions are gaining popularity. Architects are creating flexible layouts and using modular furniture to accommodate various activities and changing lifestyles.

TREND 12: Emphasis on local and artisanal

In response to the mass production of goods, there is a growing interest in supporting local artisans and craftsmanship. Designers are incorporating handmade and locally sourced elements to add uniqueness and a sense of authenticity to spaces.

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2023 Trends

The rise of technologies like Artificial Intelligence, web3 and Augmented Reality promises to revolutionize and enhance the wellness world in new, exciting ways: from tailor-made, comprehensive wellness plans, to communal, virtual wellness platforms, to incentive-based apps that gamify our wellness goals, to AI-powered coaches that offer personalized guidance. At the same time, AR will play a crucial role in creating an immersive and unique space to complement all these different experiences, creating a true convergence of wellness, AR and AI.

TREND 1: AI-Personalized Wellness.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize personal wellness by providing tailor-made wellness plans. These plans, powered by web3 technologies, could include nutrition, exercise and personalized sleep programs based on individual health data and preferences. Moreover, AI-driven wellness platforms could offer real-time progress tracking and adapt recommendations as user needs change, marking a new era of precision wellness.

TREND 2: Virtual Wellness Spaces.
As the digital landscape evolves, communal virtual wellness platforms could become a significant trend. Offering AI-driven fitness classes, meditation sessions and virtual therapy, these spaces provide the benefits of communal wellness activities from the comfort of users’ homes. By integrating web3 technologies, these platforms can ensure data security and offer personalized experiences, helping users achieve their wellness goals in a secure, supportive virtual environment.

TREND 3: Wellness-to-Earn Mobile Apps.
“Wellness-to-Earn” may become popular, offering tangible incentives for healthy behaviors. These mobile apps, powered by AI and web3 technologies, could reward users with tokens to achieve personal wellness goals, such as regular exercise, proper nutrition, or mindfulness practices. This concept integrates gamification with wellness, encouraging users to maintain healthy habits while earning rewards.

TREND 4: AI-Powered Wellness Coaches.
The use of AI in personal wellness coaching is set to rise significantly. These digital coaches, underpinned by web3 technologies, could provide personalized guidance based on users’ health data, track progress and offer actionable insights to improve wellness journeys. As these AI coaches become more sophisticated, they may provide highly personalized advice comparable to human wellness coaches, marking a significant advancement in digital wellness solutions.

TREND 5: Immersive AR Wellness Experiences in the Metaverse.
As the Metaverse evolves, Augmented Reality (AR) is set to play a crucial role in wellness practices, creating immersive, interactive experiences. These could range from virtual fitness classes to mindfulness sessions set in various Metaverse environments. With the integration of web3 technologies, these AR-driven wellness experiences can offer a higher level of personalization, security and user control. This trend signifies the convergence of wellness, AR and the Metaverse, powered by the decentralization and security of web3 technologies.

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More and more, spas are becoming a unique, social gathering space—especially after the pandemic. The same is apparent in the hotel industry, which is adopting design changes to accommodate this new trend. This movement toward group wellness is also spurring an increase in traditional and indigenous ceremonies. Also, more organizations are leveraging the data we generate with fitness apps to create a more personalized experience and the spa experience is undergoing a transformation in what people expect from it. Gone are the days of a brief reprieve. People now crave long-lasting change. Leaders are recognizing that the wellbeing of their staff is critical in and of itself and as a means to provide an exceptional customer experience. Many best-in-class hotels and spas are catering to the rising interest in sports by providing features and amenities better than many gyms. All of these improvements for the customers have led to increased reliance on expert consultants to help carry out their vision.

2023 Trends

TREND 1: Social Spa-ing
As if we had not always known it: man is a social being. The pandemic years with their “social distancing” have made this even clearer. Humans crave social contact with others, shared experiences and lively and thought-provoking exchanges. This need for togetherness can extend to spa and wellness areas, and affect design and programming. Group  visits to the spa and wellness activities are increasing; interactive sauna and Aufguss ceremonies with more than 50 people are not uncommon, and gatherings of friends, and also businesses, are utilizing spas for retreat-type experiences, combining spa and wellness treatments with relaxation time as a team-building activity. This trend is affecting design, incorporating larger areas of flexible space into spas, potentially even those that can be closed off. This provides privacy for a larger group who may want to combine a meeting with wellness, and also presents an opportunity for space rental income, especially in stand-alone spas.

This sense of belonging is extending to the entire hospitality world. Hotels are responding to this need by engaging with their local communities. From large lobbies filled with comfortable seating and ample Wi-Fi, to discounts and events targeting the local community, hotels are looking beyond simply boosting room revenue. By fostering a sense of togetherness and shared values, hotels are transforming into hubs that nurture connections and forge lasting relationships and play a prominent role in the life of the communities they serve.

TREND 2: Indigenous Therapies
Particularly in the US and Latin America, there is an increasing consumer interest in traditional indigenous healing methods such as Copal cleansing, Temescal, and Ayahuasca, Fire, and Cacao ceremonies. But services utilizing traditional, regional healing methods are also on the rise again in the rest of the world. They are seen as valuable, evidence-based methods, typically incorporating natural herbs, botanicals and remedies that either need to be rediscovered or saved from oblivion. Indigenous therapies can also be performed in countries other than the ones of origin, provided they are carried out as authentically as possible and not just as a Disneyland copy. It can be very enjoyable for guests, especially in hotel spas, to satisfy their sense of adventure by trying something they’d never see on the spa menu at home.

TREND 3: Biohacking and Hyper Personalisation
One-size-fits-all treatments were yesterday. Today, treatments are highly valued when they are as as tailored as possible. It’s no longer just about writing the client’s first name on the bottle of skin serum, but actually putting together the contents of the bottle in a targeted and bespoke manner. Now that a majority of clients are wearing fitness and wellness trackers and collecting data on their movement, eating and sleeping habits, the natural next step is to build on that data to create personalized programming. Additionally, technology advancements have made devices such as LED lighting, binaural audio and far-infrared mats, to name a few, smaller and more affordable for use in wellness settings.

From biohacking methods to customized programs based on DNA analysis, wellness treatments and programs are becoming more and more personalized and distinctive.

TREND 4: Transformative Experiences
Wellness is increasingly understood by guests as what it was originally meant to be—a a way to lead a health and enjoyable life according to one’s potential. The reality of life usually looks different and so many people have a desire for change, for transformation, and are looking to spas to provide this extra spark. Wellness should no longer just be gentle and relaxing in a beautiful environment, it should not just be a “time out” from everyday life, but should actually inspire real and long-lasting change. Spa guests are willing to spend their discretionary income for opportunities to become a “better version” of themselves. These transformative experiences may be physical, mental or spiritual, and often include elements of each, fuelling the surge in interest in retreats globally.

TREND 5: Employee Wellbeing
The continued glaring shortage of skilled workers is leading to a paradigm shift in the spa and hotel world. It is no longer enough to offer competitive salaries, benefits and working conditions to find and keep employees. Increasingly, HR is also focusing on the physical and psychological wellbeing of employees. First and foremost, the hospitality industry is fundamentally a people business, and without dedicated and thriving individuals on our teams, success becomes an impossible goal. We are seeing hotels and wellness businesses that are prioritizing employee wellbeing and creating a workplace culture that fosters growth and happiness. Because one thing is clear: Staff who is supposed to look after the wellbeing of their guests must be able to feel good and be well themselves.

TREND 6: Sports, Spa & Hospitality
As highlighted in the 2023 Global Wellness Summit Trend report, hospitality, spa and wellness businesses continue to take the logical step of connecting to sporting activities in order to increase engagement and reach new audiences. In the US alone, it is estimated that over 230 million people participate in sporting and fitness activities, making this large cohort worth designing programming for. In addition to the SIRO brand opening soon in Dubai from Kerzner, Proper Hotels are providing workout classes from The Class, and Bahia Principe Caribbean resorts are adding pickleball courts. Hyatt brand 7PinesIbiza will feature visiting practitioner programs for this summer, including several experts on biomechanics and body sculpting. Wynn properties are providing in-room, 30-minute celebrity workout videos, and Equinox continues to set the pace by creating fitness spaces that have more features and amenities than many full-service gyms, such as in-locker chargers and an on-site valet to launder your gym attire. We believe we will continue to see momentum behind sports- and recovery-related design and programming in spa and hospitality venues.

TREND 7: The Consultants Perspective
Since businesses began reopening post-pandemic, in late 2020, spa and hospitality consultants have been busier than ever, as their clients seek to make long-needed improvements in their business model or infrastructure, and entrepreneurs want to get involved in businesses that embrace all things “wellness.” Following are some of the trends we are experiencing in our businesses:

• Spas and hotels are incorporating more outdoor space, natural elements and fresh air into new build design.
• Larger projects are engaging multiple consultants across disciplines, thus requiring a more collaborative approach.
• Flexibility in design components has become more important than ever, as we’ve discovered that long-term needs cannot always be anticipated.
• More clients are keeping consultants on long-term retainers as business advisors.
• Square footage dedicated to recovery and biohacking services is increasing.
• In response to the needs for flexible space and the introduction of new modalities, many spas, especially day spas, are foregoing dedicated men’s and women’s locker rooms in favor of multi-gender changing areas.

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As yoga continues to grow as a wildly popular practice, the most prominent trend for 2023 sees an increasing differentiation between yoga and yoga therapy, a practice that shares yoga’s overall purpose while focusing on its clinical and therapeutic applications. This practice is being integrated in many different health and wellness settings, like the US Department of Veterans Affairs, that successfully included it in their Whole Health initiative. More and more training programs in yoga therapy are being created around the world. One of the most promising healing techniques in this field is sound healing, which uses sound as support for mindfulness and meditation. The emerging importance of yoga therapy in the health and wellness world is also evident in the growing number of podcasts dedicated to it, that introduce listeners to its practices and protocols.

2023 Trends

Trend 1: Increased Recognition of Yoga vs. Yoga Therapy
Today, yoga is a wildly popular, multi-billion-dollar industry with over 300 million practitioners and instructors worldwide . While many people turn to yoga as a form of exercise to improve strength, muscle tone and flexibility, most have misunderstood the true intent of this discipline. In truth, yoga offers endless possibilities and options to protect our health, and maintain how we feel and sustain our lives. This is most apparent when differentiating yoga from yoga therapy.

Traditionally, the purpose of yoga was self-realization and transformation. Yoga therapy shares this overall purpose while focusing on the clinical and therapeutic application of yoga in a modern healthcare and wellness management context. While derived from the same tradition of Patanjali and the Ayurvedic system of healthcare, yoga therapy, the remedial tradition and subset of yoga, has emerged as a distinct subspecialty within the wider discipline of yogic practice.

Rather than a trend, yoga therapy is a wellness option that encompasses concepts and practices that have been used for centuries and are not yet fully recognized for their potential to transform aspects of human healing and healthcare management in fundamental ways. Despite its growing usage and acceptance, however, yoga therapy has been little understood, not only by the public at large but also by many practitioners and teachers of more widespread yoga forms.

Efforts to increase public awareness of yoga therapy are ongoing and vitally important—as is demonstrating its value to, and securing buy-in from, the healthcare and medical establishments.

Sources:

1. https://www.zippia.com/advice/yoga-industry-statistics/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28208599/
3. https://www.iayt.org/page/ContemporaryDefiniti#:~:text=Yoga%20therapy%20is%20the%20process,teachings%20and%20practices%20of%20Yoga

Trend 2: The Exponential Growth of Yoga—Beyond the Tipping Point
Even in an uncertain economy, the American yoga and Pilates studio market is growing at a pace of 9.8% annually and will be worth over $215 billion by 2025. One in three Americans have tried yoga at least once, and 15% have practiced it in the last six months. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, yoga’s growth has accelerated significantly with yoga class reservation numbers rising by 25% during the first year of the pandemic. In fact, the global yoga market has been projected to enjoy a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6% from 2021 to 2027, which would see 350 million yoga practitioners, representing a global market valued over $66 billion.

By contrast, in India, only 7% of people practice yoga, according to the Pew Research Center, and those who do are largely retirees—a conundrum that has recently inspired the Indian government to start promoting yoga for its contributions to the world and potential health benefits for all ages. That may explain why experts predict the most growth in the global yoga industry in the next will be in the Asia-Pacific market, where the CAGR is expected to reach 10.8%.

What is clear from these projections is that yoga has become a global phenomenon.

Sources:

1. https://apnews.com/press-release/business-wire/lifestyle-health-yoga-pilates-04da44eb2eb04a96986ed5044aa58c0e
2. https://www.thegoodbody.com/yoga-statistics/
3. https://classpass.com/blog/classpass-wellness-fitness-trends-2020/
4. https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/yoga-market-A06967
5. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/07/06/most-indians-including-most-hindus-do-not-practice-yoga/
6. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/the-business-of-yoga-can-indian-entrepreneurs-bend-into-the-lululemon-pose/articleshow/101169111.cms
7. https://www.zippia.com/advice/yoga-industry-statistics/

Trend 3: Expansion of Training Programs in Yoga Therapy Education Worldwide
In 2023, the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) announced the presence of 70 accredited yoga therapy training programs worldwide, which represents the greatest number to date. School directors are continuing to meet and collaborate, looking for creative ways to educate certified yoga therapists to be able to work with communities and in medical and other settings. Growth of virtual education worldwide during the pandemic has allowed for yoga teachers even in remote areas to deepen their professional education through joining synchronous communities of learning, working together in real time. IAYT member schools have also expanded to other locations around the world, including Ukraine, Switzerland and Wales.

Trend 4: Growing Integration of Yoga Therapy within the US Department of Veterans Affairs Whole Health Initiative
At the June 2023 SYTAR (Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research), Dr. Jayashree Pathak, who works for the US Department of Veterans Affairs in the New Jersey Health Care System, shared statistics related to the integration of yoga therapy within the US Department of Veterans Affairs Whole Health initiative. Over the past year, there have been 66,000 virtual yoga therapy encounters delivered by yoga therapists to people served by the VA. Results so far have been positive and demand is increasing. 

Sources:

1. https://www.iayt.org/page/sytar2023
2. https://www.va.gov/wholehealth/

Trend 5: Yoga Tourism Bounces Back Post-Pandemic
Over the past decade, the luxury hotel spa and wellness resort industry has experienced remarkable expansion, primarily driven by customer demand. This surge can be attributed to various factors, including the aging baby boomer generation seeking rejuvenation, affluent individuals prioritizing their wellbeing and seeking self-fulfillment, and a time-constrained population longing for relaxation to improve their overall health. As a result, the demand for revitalizing and therapeutic spa services, including yoga and yoga therapy, is expected to keep rising.

Along with the demand of yoga offerings in hospitality and spa settings, yoga tourism is also continuing to grow as the “the global yoga tourism market size was valued at $154.11 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to exhibit a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2022 to 2030. The rise in popularity of outdoor yoga sessions offered over long weekend breaks, festival time holidays and seasonal options are the major factors driving the market.” Yet many, if not most, resorts and spas still offer yoga as exercise or general group classes rather than private or small yoga therapy-based programs with a holistic, more therapeutic approach.

Sources:

1. https://healthandfitnesstravel.com/blog?p=7&start=693
2. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/yoga-tourism-market-report

Trend 6: The Proliferation of Sound Healing within Yoga Therapy as a Healing Technique
There are growing communities of people integrating sound healing as a treatment modality within the purview of yoga therapy. The Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research (SYTAR), held by the International Association of Yoga Therapists in June 2023, featured featured a Sound Healing experience led by a certified yoga therapist, as well as a prominent display of sound healing tools and equipment. Sound baths and other sound healing techniques are also offered on a number of meditation, mindfulness and mental health-focused apps.

Sound healing as a modality within the practice of yoga therapy has recently been recognized in mainstream media. For example, sound healing was prominently featured in an episode of Apple TV’s 2023 series “The Reluctant Traveler” with Eugene Levy. In this episode, when Levy visits the exclusive resort Kudadoo in the Maldives, his session with a yoga therapist is focused on the transformative practice of sound healing.

Sources:

1.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871151/

Trend 7: Yoga Therapy Advocates and Thought Leaders Sharing Airwaves on Podcasts
Popular podcasts within the mind-body space, such as Yogaland Podcast, The Radically Loved Podcast, and others, are including more content related to yoga therapy A growing number of dedicated podcasts, including Yoga Therapy Hour by Amy Wheeler, This is Yoga Therapy by Michele Lawrence, From Pain to Possibility with Susi Hately, are introducing listeners to the practices and protocols of yoga therapy.

Sources:

1. https://jasonyoga.com/yogaland-podcast/
2. https://www.radicallyloved.com/listen
3. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yoga-therapy-hour-with-amy-wheeler/id1564687158
4. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-yoga-therapy/id1465851297
5. https://www.functionalsynergy.com/podcast/

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2023 Trends

Investments are surging in hot springs facilities in countries like the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, and on a smaller scale, China. These investments include creating sustainable options like solar panels, hydronic space heating and recycling programs. Many people have recognized the benefits of hot-cold contrast bathing and are looking at this experience as a way to boost their immune system, reduce inflammation and find relief from pain. This is happening both in hot springs locations around the world and at home, as more and more plunge pools are created for in-home use. At the same time, hot springs facilities are being planned with health care in mind, allowing guests to pursue their wellness goals in recreational settings. And the first steps are being taken in education as well, with the creation of diploma level courses on hot springs and thermal bathing wellness, both in China and Australia.

TREND 1: New hot springs investments and renovations large and small including in environmentally sustainable facilities.

Nearly every country involved in the survey has reported significant investments in this field, particularly the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. China has seen a reduction in large investments as a direct result of the pandemic and its late emergence. Small scale investments in hot springs in China, including in places that could be called Hot Springs B&B’s have been very solid. The US saw a massive expansion, with over 50 projects underway and the emergence of internationally recognized brands like Six Senses. Smaller and emerging markets like New Zealand and Australia have seen significant investments too, with many more in the pipeline. Several countries reported investments in sustainable facilities like solar panels, hydronic space heating and recycling programs, making this ecological focus a major trend on its own.

TREND 2: Hot-cold contrast bathing becomes mainstream.

The benefits of hot-cold contrast bathing have been widely recognized and is now almost universal in hot springs across the globe. Guests are seeking active ways to boost their immune system, reduce inflammation and find relief from pain: The combination of heat (in the form of bathing and saunas) and cold (in the form of cold plunges, ice showers and ice caves) provides an evidence-based way to achieve it. This trend has also seen the emergence of in-home cold plunge pools placed alongside a sauna or hot bath to enable contrast bathing to be enjoyed on a more regular basis.

TREND 3: A diversity of wellness experiences expanding rapidly both on-site and in the region of the hot springs.

An expanded number of offerings beyond just the core (and most popular) hot springs bathing pool has emerged as a way for hot springs to support the broad wellness needs of guests. These are many and limited only by creativity and the physical location. Examples include: guided mobility programs for strengthening and conditioning; bike riding and hiking in the regions of hot springs (combining the bathing with activities external to the facility); sensory experiences to induce calm and relaxation, including mood lighting, music and peaceful settings; healthy cocktails and tonics, providing fun ways to enjoy drinks that are good for you; clays and muds for both therapy and fun; hot springs yoga and tai-chi, as well as local rituals, and many more.

TREND 4: Tertiary education courses in hot springs and hydrothermal wellness herald the emergence of professional careers in the sector.

Australia and China have been leading the world with the creation of the first formal tertiary education programs specializing in the hot springs and thermal bathing wellness sector. Chisholm Institute in Australia has been working with the industry to create a diploma level course by the end of 2023. An initial trial round of students will start in 2024 and the full course will be available for enrollment in 2025. Hezhou University in Guandxi, China, established a Hot Springs College in April 2023 and is planning to recruit students starting in September 2023.

TREND 5: Health care facilities and practices are being woven into hot springs.

As the wellness facilities and services at hot springs grow, there is a natural tendency to also provide experiences where visitors can exercise independently to enhance and maintain their health. Facilities are increasingly adding health care design into their new recreational and wellness hot springs spaces.  These facilities are enabling guests who have learned health care practices at hot springs health clinics to turn their learning into a regular wellness activity at recreational hot springs. This trend is seeing the natural transition from healthcare to self-care: A movement from health practitioner assisted learning to self-guided wellness habits.

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